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quadrats along 30 transects. The three quadrats were combined for each <br />transect. Perennial grasses and (orbs were included in the productivity <br />determination. Annual, biennial, noxious species, and woody plants were not <br />included in the productivity evaluation. Results of productivity sampling <br />conducted in 2004 determined that the reclaimed community produced 33.78 <br />g!'/< MZ. This value translates to 1,203.9 Ibs air-dry biomass per acre. The <br />reclaimed area was successful for biomass production in 2004. <br />Species diversity standards are found on permit page 522. The approved <br />diversity standard for the Raton Creek Mine is: <br />At least 60% of the total allowable vegetative cover will be grass with no <br />one grass species comprising more than 50% of the total allowable cover. <br />• At least 10% of the total vegetative cover will be comprised of forb <br />species. <br />Energy Fuels Coal, Inc. has established a permanent, relatively diverse, grass <br />dominated community. The 2004 cover data recorded 14 perennial grass <br />species, 3 perennial forb species, 1 sub-shrub species, 2 shrub species, and 12 <br />annual or biennial species. One noxious weed species, field bindweed, was <br />encountered with in 19 of the 30 transects during the sampling event. <br />Perennial grasses achieved 63.6% relative allowable cover. This value exceeds <br />the approved 60% required in the permit. No single grass species should <br />comprise greater than 50% of the allowable cover. Western wheatgrass was the <br />most dominant species and comprised 33.3% of the allowable cover. The <br />diversity requirement for grasses has been achieved for the 2004 sampling <br />event. <br />Three perennial forb species contribute 21.1 % relative cover. Cover from sub- <br />shrubs can be counted in the forb category, raising the forb relative cover to <br />21.2%. This 21.2% relative cover value is more than double the value of 10% <br />required by the approved reclamation success standard. The diversity standard <br />for the forb component has been achieved for the 2004 sampling event. <br />Woody plant density success standard for the mine is 167 stems per acre. IME, <br />the contractor conducting the revegetation survey, collected 250 belt transects <br />(100 MZ) for woody plant density. Data was collected to adequacy in accordance <br />with the adequacy formula outlined in the Division's Guideline Regarding <br />Selected Coal Mine Bond Release Issues, dated April 18, 1995. Three shrub <br />species and three tree species were encountered in the shrub belt transects; <br />Rubber rabbitbrush, Yellow rabbitbrush, Fourwing saltbush, Boxelder, Rocky <br />mountain juniper, and Gambel oak. IME included Winterfat (Krascheninnikovia <br />Janata) in the woody stem counts. Winterfat is considered asub-shrub. The <br />Division does not allow sub-shrubs in the woody stem density calculations. <br />Subtraction of the Winterfat data from the woody stem data results in 5.464 <br />